The development patented in 1951 was a miniature submachine gun. The weapon was initially positioned by developers as civil defense weapon. However, due to a set of their characteristics (small size, ease of use, high rate of fire – about 1200 rds / min), the weapon was almost immediately banned by the authorities. According to some information, only about 150 samples of this pistol were produced.

Cartridge 6.35 x 15.5 mm

The creators immediately considered the gun as weapons for self defense, while the gun, as noted, differed miniature size. On the basis of this, the cartridge for it was also selected.

The main goal of the developers was to add relatively ineffective and weak ammunition. 6.35×15.5 mm possibility of automatic fire. According to the Italian developers, this was to compensate for the flaws that this cartridge possessed. It is worth noting that the caliber cartridge 6.35×15.5 mm was developed in 1906 by the famous gunsmith John Moses Browning. He designed a cartridge specifically for the small-sized pocket pistol. FN Browning Sample 1906.

The conventional designation of this cartridge is “6.35–15.5 HR“. The letters “HR” in the title signal the presence of a weakly protruding lip (or a weakly protruding flange) in the liner in combination with a groove (halb-rand (it) or half-rim (eng)). This cartridge was known by various names, for example .25 ACP, 6.35 Browning, 6.35 mm and others. At the beginning of the 20th century, this pistol cartridge was widely spread among civilian weapons, intended for self defense.

At the beginning of the last century, a huge number of models of pistols for self-defense of the “pocket” type were developed for this cartridge. Some of these pistols are still available. Examples of such pistols are Beretta models “950“,”21” or Walther models RRB and TRN, as well as many other pistols.

After the production of a pistol began in the USA Colt 1908, which was an American copy of a German pistol FN Browning Sample 1906, there began the release of the cartridge 6.35×15.5 HR to him who received the designation in America .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol). In addition to the Colt, this cartridge was also produced by the American company Union Metallic Cartridge (UMC, which was a division of Remington), as well as a number of other well-known companies in the USA and Europe.

The 6.35×15.5HR cartridge is characterized by the presence of a cylindrical sleeve with a small taper to the Dultz. Bullet shell with a lead core. The shell of the bullet tompak or copper, covered with nickel silver. Brass sleeve. The mass of the cartridge – 5.3 grams, the mass of the bullet – 3.25 grams, the mass of the powder charge – 0.09 grams. The initial speed of a bullet – 228 m / s, muzzle energy – 92 J.

This cartridge was used in the Soviet Union. In 1926, the armament of higher command personnel Red Army a pistol was adopted S.A. Korovina, received the designation “TC”. It was created for a 6.35 mm caliber cartridge. In this case, the cartridge of this caliber for Korovin’s pistol somewhat different from the patron 6.35 Browning. The main differences were in an insignificant increase in the mass of the bullet, the powder charge and the length of the cartridge. The diameter of the flange of the liner in the European cartridge was slightly larger. A 6.35-mm caliber cartridge that was used with a TK pistol received the designation in the USSR 6.35 TC. The release of this cartridge continued until the mid-60s of the last century.

Caliber cartridges 6.35×15.5 used exclusively in miniature pistols, which were also called “ladies”. The fact is that he had a very low penetrating ability and low stopping power. Often, such a bullet did not pierce a person’s skull.

Bullets fired from pocket automatic pistols had a speed of just over 200 m / s. In order to stop an enemy well prepared and ready for a fight, this speed was not enough. It was necessary, at least, to hit the attacker in the vital organs. Make it from a weapon of caliber 6.35 mm in an extreme situation it was very difficult, especially at the extreme distance – more than 10 meters.

Due to the fact that this caliber is recognized by experts to be ineffective, at present, analogues of this cartridge are produced with expansive bullet. Such bullets have the ability to increase their diameter when released into a soft environment.

Features of the design of the gun Lerker

Initially, the Italian developers decided to create civilian version of a pistol under such a low-power cartridge, but their plans included the creation of an army version of their 9mm pistol cartridge Glisenti.

The advantages of automatic fire with such a low-power cartridge for self defense weapons, which is used at very close distances are obvious. The chance to kill or incapacitate the enemy in a relatively short time period increases significantly. The second positive quality of the combination of weak ammunition and automatic fire at a short distance was that there was almost no need for accurate aiming from a pistol, since the very low recoil when fired completely allowed the shooter to control the pistol well.

When administered automatic fire shop in 20 rounds remained empty in just a second. The theoretical rate of fire of the Lehrker pistol was 1,200 rds / min (in practice, much less, since it is impossible to change stores so quickly). Together with a loaded magazine for 20 rounds, the pistol weighed 930 grams. Its total length was only 184 mm, and the length of the trunk – 104 mm.

Automation Lerker’s pistol was built similarly to the automation used in submachine guns. Shooting was carried out from the “open bolt”, which was immediately retracted before the shot.

The layout of all the implemented mechanics was much more interesting. The return spring of the Lerker pistol was located around its barrel, and the bolt had a practical length equal to the length of the weapon itself and moved along the barrel of the pistol as if along a guide.

All together it was assembled in an unusual receiver, which is a tube, with a barrel fixed in it and an adjacent handle, on which the trigger mechanism was located.

In this case, the trigger mechanism of the pistol was under the barrel. The location of the trigger mechanism was due to the placement of the main controls of the gun, as well as a positive effect on the dimensions of the weapon.

The pistol magazine is inserted inside the handle, where it is fixed with a spring-loaded latch located at the bottom of the handle. Sights on the gun were open, unregulated (in fact, they simply did not need because of the use of weapons at short range).

As we noted above, the gun was not widely used. The Italian authorities were just scared that this compact submachine gun lerker, turned out to be so effective and successful, it will be available to the broad masses of the population of the country.

At the same time, the army and the police were also not interested in the model, since the 6.35 mm caliber cartridge was rather weak. As a result, it was possible to release no more than 150 such pistols, which are sold around the world and for the most part settled in museums. And for some reason, for some reason, they did not develop a weapon for a more effective cartridge, for example, 9-mm cartridge Glezenti, Cesare Lercher and Carlo Kuppini.